Just in Time for Halloween - "101 Ways To Kill A Zombie" by Robb Pearlman

If you need help protecting yourself from zombies this Halloween, then be sure to check out the new book 101 Ways To Kill A Zombie (Universe) by Robb Pearlman, with illustrations by Dave Urban. The pictures do most of talking in this humorous new book that features popular zombie elimination weapons including knives, axes and screwdrivers, to the more unconventional ones, including fireworks, nerd rage and a mob hit. More clever methods, such as brain freeze, password reset and the ever popular drone strike, take creativity to a new level.

Pop culture references, particularly ones featuring movies, are some of the most amusing and include The Wizard of Oz, Single White Female and Shaft. In addition, nods to Stephen King, Justin Bieber and the board game Clue make this a thoroughly entertaining read. Dave Urban's full color illustrations are detailed and often hilarious, not to mention full of zombie blood, which made me feel kind of bad for the zombies depicted here. They seem so helpless and benign, but its not like they have not died once already. If you are interested in lightening up your Halloween celebrations this year, I would encourage you to check out 101 Ways To Kill A Zombie.

Humor Spotlight: "But You Like Really Dated?!" - Written and Illustrated by Ryan Casey

Leonardo DiCaprio and Mariah Carey? Cher and Tom Cruise? But You Like Really Dated?!

Using the same quick wit and signature illustration style that has attracted thousands of fans to his website, Ryan Casey presents all of the hilarious details behind four decades of celebrity hookups in But You Like Really Dated?! The Celebropedia of Hollywood Hookups (It Books).

In his new book, Ryan Casey has gathered together the strangest, most surprising, and downright odd mating and relating habits of the denizens of Hollyweird in this full color, fully illustrated extravaganza. After tweeting a portrait of Andy Cohen during a Watch What Happens Live episode, Andy Cohen later featured it on the show and it turned into the branding for the hit late night chat show. Ryan’s popularity continues to rise with thousands of new followers a day to his website and after becoming a Bloggie winner and a Webby Award nominee, But You Like Really Dated?!  is the perfect follow up to his online success.

With amazing trivia about celebrity hookups, breakups, and makeouts, But You Like Really Dated?!  is filled with Ryan’s commentary and signature drawings. He brilliantly captures Amanda Bynes, Justin Timberlake, Honey Boo Boo, Taylor Swift and others with hundreds of spot-on illustrations. His razor-sharp commentary and amazingly detailed illustrations makes But You Like Really Dated?!  the funniest and most visually exciting book this fall.

But You Like Really Dated?!  has page after page of Ryan’s snark, signature illustrations, and amazing attention to detail. It’s hard to keep up with all of the romantic behavior of celebrities, but lucky for you, Ryan has documented all of the hookups and breakups in glorious, full color illustrations. Beautifully designed and dead-on hysterical, But You Like Really Dated?! is perhaps the funniest book you’ll read this year!

Holiday Gift Ideas from Simon & Schuster: The Hunger Pains, Teen Wolf and The Bro Code for Parents

The three books listed below are some of my favorites from 2012. Click on the titles to read my reviews.

For the humor fans and select The Hunger Games fans on your list, The Hunger Pains delivers plenty of laughs. (Touchstone books)

MTV's Teen Wolf is a consistently entertaining series and the first novel based on the series, On Fire, is a perfect companion. (MTV Books)

For fans of How I Met Your Mother and Neil Patrick Harris, The Bro Code for Parents will make you laugh out loud....repeatedly. (Touchstone Books)

Yogi Bear Offers Tips & Tricks in "Life Is a Pic-A-Nic"

Yogi has always been smarter than the av-er-age bear and now readers can understand why, courtesy of the book Life Is a Pic-A-Nic, by Yogi Bear, with Earl Kress. Yogi reveals his gift for gab and how he influences others to do his bidding, especially visitors to Jellystone Park who are carrying his beloved pic-a-nic baskets. Yogi utilizes his famous catch phrases, nonsense words and his penchant for rhyming to help achieve his goals, while keeping others off balance. How else can you explain why he has been able to avoid being thrown out of the park by Ranger Smith, who is almost always alerted to Yogi's often outlandish plans, which usually involve food? Of course, Yogi's influence wanes from time to time, so his ever present buddy, Boo-Boo, is enlisted to help him. The always cautious Boo-Boo understands that Ranger Smith will probably not approve of Yogi's shenanigans, but he goes along with the plans anyway.

Yogi also offers analysis of catch phrases used by his cartoon cohorts, including Snagglepuss, Mr. Jinks, Quick Draw McGraw and Huckleberry Hound. Of course, no one comes close to Yogi's talent for being creative with his words and phrases, which are highlighted throughout the 90 plus pages of this pocket sized book. Illustrations and images of Yogi Bear's cartoon exploits are presented in every chapter, which may bring back memories for his long time fans, while allowing potential new fans to get to know him a little better. Yogi is a animation icon after all, and his legend continues to grow more than a half century after his debut. You have to be smarter than the av-er-age bear to last that long.

Life Is a Pic-A-Nic: Yogi Bear's Tips & Tricks For The Smarter Than The Av-er-age Bear by Yogi Bear, with Earl Kress, is now available from Insight Editions.

Giveaway! Win A Copy of "The Bro Code for Parents" by Barney Stinson

Updated 12/11/12 - The giveaway has ended. Congratulations to Dave F. from Concord, NC, Dana F. from Wilkes-Barre, PA, Mitch H. from Boca Raton, FL, Sam M. from Athens, GA and Chris M. from Tucson, AZ!

PopCultureGuy, in conjunction with Touchstone and Simon & Schuster, would like to give five lucky readers the opportunity to win a copy of The Bro Code for Parents: What To Expect When You're Awesome by Barney Stinson, with Matt Kuhn.

Description:
So you’re going to be a parent. You might be asking yourself a series of important questions: Will I be a good parent? Will I be able to afford this? Can I ever have sex again? 

Well, the answer to all these questions is a rock-solid no. But just because your existence is now a petrifying turd on the canvas of life doesn’t mean your kid has to be as lame as you’re about to become. That’s why I’ve written this book—to teach you how to be an awesomommy or legendaddy. 

The Bro Code for Parents will help you: Choose a baby name that won’t get your kid stuffed into a junior high locker • Interview and hire a smokin’ hot nanny • Teach your child instant classics like “The Boobs on the Bus” and “Bro, Bro, Bro Your Boat” 

With full-color illustrations, interactive work sheets, and even suggestions for how to turn a stroller into a broller, The Bro Code for Parents gives you all the tools you’ll need to raise your child to be almost as awesome as I am. Almost.

You can read my review of The Bro Code for Parents here.

To enter the giveaway, send an e-mail to don.sauer@gmail.com, place Bro Code in the subject line and tell me why you think Barney is awesome! The contest begins December 1 and ends on December 9. Five names will be drawn at random from the e-mails received and the winners will be contacted shortly thereafter.

Open to U.S. residents only.

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. 

Thank you for reading PopCultureGuy!

Visit The Bro Code for Parents page here. 

Humor Spotlight: "The Bro Code for Parents: What to Expect When You're Awesome"

Barney is back with another book on how to be awesome! Based on the character appearing on the CBS television comedy How I Met Your Mother, Barney Stinson, The Bro Code For Parents (Touchstone) provides readers with a master class on how to be an awesome parent. Barney makes it sound so easy and the perks can be amazing! For instance, when registering at your favorite store/online retailer for an upcoming baby shower, be sure to include items that are on your wish list, too. After all, the baby will get the majority of the gifts and you, as a parent, did play a role in her/his creation and should reap some rewards! Also, when hiring a nanny, make sure you interview everyone before making a final decision (except if one applicant is smokin' hot!).

Barney covers topics such as how to get pregnant, how to get through the pregnancy, and then on to early childhood and toddlerdom. Of course, the fun is getting there and Barney always has a good time rounding the bases. Whether you need help deciding if you really want to have a baby, or need to figure out the best way to conceive, Barney knows best. He will even volunteer as a sperm donor, all you have to do is fill out a questionnaire and be super hot!

With the use of full color pictures, such as what happens to your breasts during pregnancy, ideas for what pictures to include on a mobile (like a guitar and a gun) and how to fist bump while still in the womb, Barney conveys his vast knowledge. Of course, after writing three previous books (The Playbook, The Bro Code and Bro on the Go), he is actually getting really good at this. In fact, Barney is so in tune with his readers that he understands that not everyone is handling the pregnancy well, so he is kind enough to pen original songs, such as "Boobs on the Bus," "Bro Macdonald," and "Bro Bro Bro Your Boat," that will certainly lighten your mood.

Seriously, The Bro Code for Parents is the funniest effort yet from Barney Stinson, with Matt Kuhn. I would go so far to say it is awesome, but that might be copyright infringement. I laughed out loud repeatedly while reading The Bro Code for Parents because no topic is off limits. Barney even knows his excrement and what soiled diapers really represent (calling Dr. Freud!). His illustrations on how to handle the baby are classic, as is the customized Broller (baby stroller), complete with a boob cam. Perhaps the most amusing part of the book is the disclaimer that appears at the beginning. Whether it was actually necessary to include it or not, it is just damn funny!

The Bro Code for Parents: What to Expect When You're Awesome is now available.

"Dead Man Wins Election" and Other Bizarre Political Tales

More than one deceased person has won election to public office, which helps to prove that there are few good choices left in the often absurd world of politics. Of course, dead people winning elections are just a small part of the recently released book Dean Man Wins Election: The Ultimate Collection of Outrageous, Weird and Unbelievable Political Tales (Sourcebooks), by Phil Mason. The author also provides anecdotes and short stories surrounding the hypocrisy, bad behavior and social gaffes of political figures.

"The (Mis)Rule of Law: Legislators" is, perhaps, the most amusing and interesting section. Representative Dan Foley's proposal to create an "Extraterrestial Culture Day" in New Mexico was approved by the legislature. While this may seem appropriate since New Mexico is the site of the famous Roswell UFO incident of 1947 and yes, it might boost tourism for those interested in alien phenomena, but are there not more important things to be considering? Perhaps even more absurd is the Texas law that allows blind people to hunt with guns (yes, they have to be accompanied by a person who is not legally blind) that was signed into law by none other than Governor Rick Perry.

I laughed while reading about proposed legislation to force criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice before they robbed/attacked/otherwise abused them. How could something so absurd ever be enforced and who would be stupid enough to comply? Our tax dollars are also being spent determining such important matters as Virginia's Official State Bat, Oklahoma's Official Cartoon Character and Alabama's Official State Quilt. The absurdity continues in another interesting chapter focusing on politicians behaving badly. Anecdotes include never ending speeches, some of which last for days, the sad state of violence inside political chambers, and the attempt by Texas legislator Tom Moore Jr. to honor Albert DeSalvo for his work to control the population, in 1971. DeSalvo, better known as the Boston Strangler, killed 13 women.

Dead Man Wins Election was originally published in Great Britain and potential readers should be aware that some of the language and acronyms may not be readily familiar. That does not distract from the enjoyment of the book, but it may take a little while to get used to some of the wording. In any event, with the political season heating up, now is an opportune time to read Dead Man Wins Election by Phil Mason.